I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this problem. I can't believe they can say it's 4G when it's really only for data services and not for calls. The 3G signal is definitely the problem not the phones.

But seriously. What exactly is the explanation for the issue bought up in the watchdog episode? Is it the 3G network at fault? The CSFB from 4G to 3G? Upgrades/Maintenance?

Well think about every call needing to log onto the 3G network over circuit switched fallback, maybe the authentication kit or logging back on to the 3G network for every call, or switching for every call is causing some calls to be dropped. This also happens for every SMS as I don't think SMS is supported by LTE on EE?

Imagine all that every flapping around for millions of users every time calls are placed, received or potentially SMS too.

That said, the US and others have had LTE for years and I've not known this to be a big issue with CSFB.

Well think about every call needing to log onto the 3G network over circuit switched fallback, maybe the authentication kit or logging back on to the 3G network for every call, or switching for every call is causing some calls to be dropped. This also happens for every SMS as I don't think SMS is supported by LTE on EE?

Imagine all that every flapping around for millions of users every time calls are placed, received or potentially SMS too.

That said, the US and others have had LTE for years and I've not known this to be a big issue with CSFB.

There's some interesting stuff in that Orange (France) presentation from May 2012, I honestly don't know if the LTE network supports SMS, if it does there must still be a lot of work involved in CSFB and potential for call disruption when switching.

From what I read "SG SMS" is sending SMS over the old control channel still, the same as 3G, rather than as LTE and true packet data.

EE say it's not the network, but the users say they are experiencing it, the guy on Watchdog had tried many, many different makes and models of phone.